Declining eyesight possibly be cured by looking at a red light according to a new pilot study. According to CNN's latest report, declining vision is caused by damaged mitochondria in the retina.
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The new simple therapy might be as easy as shaving or even brushing your teeth, but as long as it has the support of future studies, it might be effective in saving your vision. The new easy home-based therapy, which is available to millions of people, could augur a new era if it will be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or if the results are replicated in future studies.
The natural aging processes that steal the eyes' ability to distinguish colors and sensitivity to light can be prevented by the new layer of protection provided by the new study.
"You don't need to use it for very long to start getting a strong result," said Glen Jeffery, a neuroscience professor at University College London's Institute of Ophthalmology and the lead author of the pilot study. The report also stated that diabetes and Parkinson's, and other diseases that are implicated by the mitochondria, can have new treatments if the therapy becomes a success.
Jeffery claimed that the new discovery works since the mitochondria, like batteries in the cells, are stimulated by the red light, improving its health. The Journals of Gerontology published the results of the study, showing that looking into a deep red light for a few minutes could provide a dramatic effect on preventing eyesight decline as an individual age.
Damage to mitochondria can be prevented
12 men and 12 women, aged between 28 and 72, were recruited by the researchers to be included in the small pilot study. A small handheld flashlight, which emits red light with a wavelength of 670 nanometers, were provided to each of the participants. The provided wavelength tends to be visible to the naked human eye, toward the long end of the visible spectrum and just short of an infrared wavelength; the participants spent three minutes every day over two weeks, just looking into the red light.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the results of the study showed that the red light works on both rods and cones in the eye. Cones work best in a well-lit situation, acting as photoreceptor cells that detect color. While Rods are retina cells that specialize in helping an individual see in dim light, they are much more plentiful than cones.
The study acquired a result of a 14% improvement in cone color contrast sensitivity or the ability to see, for the entire two dozen participants. The participants at the age of 40 were got the most significant improvement, increasing their cone color contrast sensitivity by 20% throughout the pilot study.
